An unnecessary redo

HOWARD ROBINSON, Edgewater

Wednesday

Apr 27, 2011 at 12:01 AMAug 15, 2012 at 2:36 PM

I can't help but wonder what the judge in the Bert Fish Sunshine Law case was thinking. There was some bad advice, and some meetings were private that should not have been. So it is going to cost our community and hospital a lot of money.

The judge then wasn't satisfied with the do-over and now Bert Fish has to go to much expense to try to undo its merger with Florida Hospital -- and why? How will this benefit anyone? The joining with Adventist Health System would have been great for our community, bringing in more money that could have improved our hospital. We have a good hospital, but with the times like they are, joining with a bigger -- and very good -- hospital would only help the hospital serve the community even better.

I know Halifax Health is behind much of this as they were paying the lawyers for the foundation to sue Bert Fish Foundation.

If the board wanted the merger and felt it was best for Bert Fish in the redo, why is it being stopped by the judge? Why even ask for a redo if you won't accept it after it is done? The board liked Florida Hospital, so did he really expect a different outcome in a redo? Even if the ties had been undone, I am sure Florida Hospital would have been chosen because it is the best. Why does the foundation object so to this merger? Is it because of Halifax connections? I understand Halifax objecting because it is competition, and they will be surrounded by a very good competitive hospital system, but why would the foundation object so? Anyone who has experience with Florida Hospital knows it is a wonderful organization that would benefit our hospital and thus our community.

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